ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies continue forward in their season, beginning a stretch of high-level matches with showdowns against Green Bay and Butler in their next two contests.

Oakland is coming off earning its first points in conference play, drawing 1-1 with Milwaukee on Sept. 27. Despite holding a lead for nearly 80 minutes and outshooting the Panthers both in shots on goal (8–6) and total shots (15–11), the Golden Grizzlies couldn't hold on for the win.

In their last two matches, Oakland has come just minutes away from victories, conceding an 89th-minute goal to Cleveland State (Sept. 20) and an 87th-minute penalty kick to Milwaukee. With the majority of their matches tilting in their favor, closing out games remains the next step for Oakland as it looks to climb the Horizon League standings.

SATURDAY, OCT. 4 AT GREEN BAY | 3 PM ET | ESPN+

The Phoenix and Golden Grizzlies renew what has become a budding rivalry, facing off for the first time since Oakland knocked off Green Bay in the Horizon League Championship Semifinals in 2024.

Oakland advanced to its second straight conference title game that season with a 2-0 win over Green Bay, highlighted by a Malik Sylvester goal in just the second minute to set the tone.

Even with both teams near the top of the conference in recent years, Oakland has largely controlled the head-to-head series, winning six of the last eight meetings and losing just once. The Golden Grizzlies are 12-2-1 all-time against Green Bay.

The Phoenix (4-3-1, 1-1-1 HL) currently sit sixth in the conference after playing IU Indy to a scoreless draw last time out. Green Bay has lacked the offensive punch of past seasons, ranking last in the Horizon League in goals (7) and among the bottom two in both total shots (78) and shots on goal (27). This presents a potentially favorable matchup for Oakland, who has begun to find an offensive rhythm, ranking fourth in the conference in shots on goal per game (4.62).

Defensively, Green Bay has been stout, allowing a league-low six goals and holding opponents to fewer than one goal per game—something only two Horizon League teams can claim.

Saturday's game will feature a matchup of top-tier goalkeepers: Green Bay's Phillip Oesterbaek, who owns the third-highest save percentage (.800) along with two shutouts, and Oakland's Cole Thompson, who ranks third in saves per game (4.40) in the conference.

TUESDAY, OCT. 7 VS BUTLER | 7 PM

The Bulldogs and Golden Grizzlies will meet for the second straight season and just the third time in Rochester across nine all-time matchups. Oakland is aiming to snap a six-game winless streak against Butler, last defeating them in 2000, though three of those contests ended in draws.

In last year's meeting, Oakland fell 2-1 after an 85th-minute goal by the Bulldogs in a match that was nearly even statistically across the board. Entering this weekend, Butler is 2-8 on the season, riding a five-game losing streak and winless on the road (0-2) as they search for momentum.

The Bulldogs have been shut out six times this year and have been outscored 21-5 by their opponents. Still, freshman Aiden Benitez has been a bright spot, leading the team with two goals along with 18 shots and seven shots on goal.

The Butler match will begin a stretch where Oakland plays three of its next four at home, providing some relief after opening the season with seven of its first 10 matches on the road.